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SYRACUSE -ÊTwo Wawasee Community School Corp. patrons presented their concerns before the Wawasee School Board Tuesday.
One woman had an issue regarding busing, while a man told the board how important it was for Wawasee students to see the traveling Vietnam War Memorial War when it comes to Syracuse.
Virginia Freel told the school board her babysitter for her second- and third-grade children quit. The school bus picked up her children where the babysitter lived. Her new babysitter is just two-tenths of a mile closer to the school her children attend than the previous babysitter was, and is eight-tenths of a mile from the school, Freel said. However, at the new location, despite the fact the bus passes the new babysitter's house, the bus won't pick up her children.
"I have a safety concern," Freel said. She doesn't want her children to cross Ind. 13, which they would have to do if they walked to school.
Dr. Mark Stock, Wawasee Schools superintendent, said the board has a long-standing policy stating that it is "reasonable a student could walk up to a mile to school." Sticking with the town of Syracuse's original town limits, all students within the town of Syracuse walk to school or find their own ride. Over the years, the policy has created some problems for some students, but if they change the policy for one person, they'd have to change it for all, he said.
Board president Brian Dawes recommended Freel stay in touch with transporation director Bob Lahrman to work on the issue. Stock told Freel to contact his office and, along with Lahrman, the three of them will look at Freel's concerns. It doesn't mean they'll change their minds, Stock told her, as they have a policy, but they'll look at the issue.
Later in the meeting, board member Marion Acton said Freel's concern reinforces the need of the school corporation to look at the corporation's busing situation "as a whole."
The other patron, Derk Kuhn, expressed his desire to see as many Wawasee School Corp. students get to see the traveling Vietnam War Memorial Wall as possible when it comes to Syracuse.
Twice, he went to the wall in Washington, D.C., with Wawasee eighth-graders and it was a very moving experience, he said.
Stock said he knows Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce Director Steve Hite is meeting with each of the schools' principals to encourage them to have the students see the wall.
In other business, the Wawasee School Board:
• Approved the resolutions to adopt the 2003 capital projects fund plan, the 2003 bus replacement plan and the 2003 budget. The resolution to authorize reductions also was approved; it will allow director of finance Jim Evans to make adjustments to the budget and plans when he meets with the state.
• Approved the building use policy changes.
• Approved the members of FFA to attend the national convention Oct. 30 to Nov. 2 in Louisville, Ky.
• Heard a presentation on Milford School's Reading Renaissance Program.
Last year, Milford students took more than 28,000 quizzes as part of the program and passed at the 88 percent rate. There were 19 model classrooms, and students earned more than 25,000 points.
• Was told the annual performance report for Wawasee Schools is being published today in an area newspaper.
• Heard there are 61 students enrolled in the Wawasee Academy. Eight of the 61 also are enrolled at the high school.
Members of the Wawasee Community School Corp. Board of School Trustees are: president Brian Dawes, vice president Carol Swartzendruber, secretary Marion Acton, Jeff Wells and Dallas Winchester. They meet at 7 p.m. in the administration building on the second Tuesday of every month.
